An N-acetylglucosaminidase produced by Streptomyces cerradoensis was partially purified giving, by SDS-PAGE analysis, two main protein bands with Mr of 58.9 and 56.4 kDa. The K-m and V-max values for the enzyme using p-nitrophenyl-beta-N-acetylglucosaminide as substrate were of 0.13 mM and 1.95 U mg(-1) protein, respectively. The enzyme was optimally activity at pH 5.5 and at 50 degrees C when assayed over 10 min. Enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by Cu2+ and Hg2+ at 10 mM, and was specific to substrates containing acetamide groups such as p-nitrophenyl-beta-N-acetylglucosaminide and p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-N, N'-diacetylchitobiose.